Dear Monument Australia visitors, we are a self-funded, non-profit organisation, dedicated to recording monuments throughout Australia. Over time the costs of maintaining this website have risen substantially (in fact they are probably larger than those of many companies who exist for profit). In the past we have borne all the costs associated with maintaining the website but we are now having difficulties in paying the monthly expenses.

If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

The memorial in the Hay Park commemorates the Hay District volunteers who lost their lives in the South African war. The memorial, in the form of a monumental drinking fountain, is constructed of granite, and placed on a blue-stone base.

Yesterday afternoon the largest assembly of people ever seen at Hay attended at the Hay Park to witness the unveiling of the memorial to the Hay district volunteers who lost their lives in South Africa. Proceedings commenced with a procession of school children, friendly societies, the fire brigade, Church Lads Brigade, the Hay band, and returned soldiers. Speeches were given by the Mayor (Alderman Gibson) and Mr Charles Hidgcock (the hon secretary), and a patriotic oration was delivered by the Bishop of Riverina. Fully 2000 people were present, and proceedings were very enthusiastic. The memorial is in the form of a granite drinking fountain, 17ft high, and bears the inscription, ' Erected by means of shilling subscriptions to perpetuate the memory of the Hay district volunteers who lost their lives in the South African War, 1899 1902," and also bears the names of the five soldiers and dates of their deaths.The Sydney Morning Herald, 7th May 1903.